Abaca dinner
Melissa de Mata
This October, San Francisco’s acclaimed Filipino-Californian restaurant Abacá is marking Filipino American History Month (FAHM) with its most ambitious celebration yet: a dynamic, month-long series of dinners, collaborations, and community-driven events spotlighting Filipino heritage through food, art and storytelling.
Partnering with OpenTable, Chef Francis Ang and his team have curated a lineup that unites some of the country’s most celebrated Filipino American chefs, bartenders, and creatives—all in support of local nonprofits uplifting San Francisco’s Filipino community, including the Bayanihan Equity Center, SOMA Pilipinas, Sentro Filipino, and the Filipino Food Movement.
“We’re now in our fourth year, and typically we’ll bring in Filipino chefs throughout the year to collaborate with us,” says Chef Francis Ang. “But this time, we wanted to take things to another level. Filipino American History Month felt like the perfect moment to refocus on education and to help push Filipino cuisine beyond our own circles. I wanted to bring together some of the best Filipino American chefs in the country to make some noise and get attention outside of just our community.”
Honoring Heritage Through Giving Back
Each FAHM event at Abacá benefits a different nonprofit serving the Filipino community—a decision deeply rooted in the restaurant’s own history.
“Both SOMA Pilipinas and the Filipino Food Movement played a huge role in our journey back when we were starting Pinoy Heritage,” Ang explains. “They helped elevate us as entrepreneurs and gave us opportunities to collaborate and grow. The same goes for Sentro, and I deeply admire the work that Bayanihan Equity Center does to support our elderly. Giving back has always been at the heart of what we do—fundraising was actually the genesis of Pinoy Heritage, which eventually led to Abacá.”
That spirit of community support began years ago.
“In November 2013, after Super Typhoon Haiyan, Dian and I organized a fundraiser at the Fifth Floor Restaurant, where we were both working at the time,” he recalls. “We created a full Filipino menu, and the response was overwhelming. That night became our ‘eureka’ moment—the spark that inspired us to launch our pop-up and, ultimately, this restaurant. So for us, it feels natural that this celebration also uplifts the organizations that have uplifted us and our community.”
Kamayan feast
Angelo Santa Cruz
A Look At The Event Lineup
Abacá Brunch + Pinoy Marketplace
When: Saturday, October 18 | 10:00 AM – 1:30 PM
Details: $65 per person
- A lively brunch featuring dishes from Monique Feybesse (Tarts de Feybesse, Oakland), Jade Cunningham (Carabao, Napa), and Andre Casper (Roline’s, Napa) alongside Chef Ang.
- Explore a pop-up marketplace at the Kimpton Alton Hotel showcasing Bay Area makers in food, fashion, and lifestyle.
- Proceeds benefit: Filipino Food Movement.
Abacá × FAHM Pulutan Night
When: Monday, October 20 | 6:00 – 9:30 PM
Details: $85 per person (includes welcome drink + unlimited bites)
“Pulutan Night is all about getting up close with the chefs and bartenders,” says Ang. “Guests can chat, share stories, and see the creativity behind the food and drinks. It’s a fun, relaxed way to celebrate Filipino flavors while keeping that laid-back, communal vibe that makes Filipino gatherings so special.”
- Features Evan Kidera & Gil Payumo (Señor Sisig, SF), Ej Macayan (Ox & Tiger, SF), Lordfer Lalicon (Kaya, Orlando), Carlo Lamagna (Magna Kusina, Portland), and Chef Ang.
- Cocktails by Kevin Diedrich (PCH/Kona’s) and Spencer Vios (Abacá).
- Proceeds benefit: SOMA Pilipinas.
Abacá × FAHM Kamayan
When: Wednesday, October 22 | Two Seatings – 6:00 PM & 8:30 PM
Details: $125 per person (includes welcome drink + s’mores on the patio)
“Kamayan is sacred,” says Ang. “Eating with your hands elevates the experience—it allows you to truly touch and feel your food. It connects you to your meal in a way utensils never can, and it naturally breaks down barriers between diners, creating a shared, intimate experience. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a celebration of connection, heritage, and community.”
- Family-style Kamayan feast prepared by Melissa Miranda (Musang/Kilig, Seattle), Harold Villarosa (The Peach, Oakland), Melvin (Mano, Chicago), Deanna Sison (Mestiza, SF), and Chef Ang.
- Cocktails by Chris Longoria (Copra/West Bev/Eylan) and Spencer Vios (Abacá).
- Proceeds benefit: Bayanihan Equity Center.
Abacá × FAHM Paubaya
When: Friday, October 24 | Staggered Seating
Details: $125 per person (4-course menu) 📍 Abacá 🔗 OpenTable
“Honestly, every chef and every event brings something unique,” Ang shares. “We’ve gathered a ton of talent in one kitchen—something that doesn’t happen often—and creating menus that flow together has been such an exciting process. It’s coming together so well that it makes me want to be a guest instead of cooking!”
- “Paubaya,” meaning to entrust, features a four-course tasting menu by Paolo Dunca (Kayu, DC), Ellie Estrada (Nisei, SF), and Chef Ang.
- Beverage pairings by Jhonel Faelnar (Lihka Wines / NA:EUN Hospitality), Justine Osilla (Kabayan Wines), and Spencer Vios (Abacá).
- Proceeds benefit: Sentro Filipino.
A Celebration of Filipino Foodways
This year’s FAHM celebration brings together culinary voices from San Francisco to Chicago and Seattle, showcasing how Filipino cuisine continues to evolve across the United States.
“Our vision was to bring together people whose work we truly admire, each representing Filipino food through their own lens and upbringing,” says Ang. “From San Francisco to Chicago and Seattle, these chefs, sommeliers, and mixologists showcase the creativity and diversity of Filipino cuisine in America. Each interprets Filipino flavors in their own way, highlighting just how rich and varied our foodways are.”
As with Abacá’s regular menu, California’s bounty remains at the center of it all.
“Northern California ingredients are always our inspiration—the Philippines has many regions, and California is ours,” Ang adds. “For these FAHM events, guests will experience familiar Filipino flavors presented in fresh, exciting ways. We hope people leave with a deeper appreciation for our cuisine—its history, its creativity, and how it continues to evolve while staying true to its roots.”
Abacá’s Filipino American History Month celebration isn’t just a culinary showcase—it’s a heartfelt reminder of how food sustains culture, bridges generations, and builds community.
Located inside the Kimpton Alton Hotel in Fisherman’s Wharf, Abacá is open for breakfast, brunch, and dinner, serving elevated Filipino-Californian cuisine that reflects both heritage and innovation. But this October, it becomes something even more profound: a gathering place for connection, pride, and the continuing story of Filipino America. For more details and reservations, click here.
